Players of Denmark celebrate after scoring a goal in the FIFA Women's World Cup against China at Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia, July 22, 2023. /CFP
Denmark defeated China 1-0 in their first game in Group D at the FIFA Women's World Cup at Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia, on Saturday.
Amalie Vangsgaard scored the only goal of the game in the 89th minute by exploiting a left corner kick by Pernille Harder. Vangsgaard shot the header from the edge of the box, but China's goalkeeper Xu Huan was distracted by Rikke Sevecke, failing to stop the ball from flying into the goal.
This was the fifth meeting between China and Denmark in international competitions and the first win for Denmark.
China didn't start star forward Wang Shuang. The team invested more effort in freezing Harden and Nicoline Sorensen in the first half. Neither side created much of a chance in the first 45 minutes of the game.
Wang Shuang (#7) of China shoots in the FIFA Women's World Cup game against Denmark at Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia, July 22, 2023. /CFP
As Wang came off the bench in the 46th minute, China began to press forward more into Denmark's half of the field. Wang took several shots herself, but they were all off the mark. Denmark adjusted their offense as well by sending in Signe Bruun in the 62nd minute, counting on her speed to make a difference.
Harder had the chance to go through China's defensive line and take the goalkeeper by herself in the 80th minute, but she took too much time to adjust her rhythm. China's defenders came back in time and blocked her shot.
Earlier in the day, in the other game of Group D, England beat Haiti 1-0. England will meet Denmark on July 28. China will play Haiti on the same day.